# NTSB ERA22LA382: Aeronca 7AC, N44FC, Clermont, FL, August 21, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 21, 2022, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Clermont, FL - Coordinates: 28.407114, -81.837152 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4071&lon=-81.8372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA382 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105784/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105784 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA382 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control while landing due to a worn tailwheel locking mechanism, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while landing the vintage tailwheel airplane on a turf airstrip, the airplane veered left when the tailwheel touched down. The airplane traveled off the runway and the right wing struck a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel revealed that the locking mechanism was worn, which likely resulted in the tailwheel not being appropriately aligned with the rudder position during the landing. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2022, about 1400 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 7AC, N44FC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Clermont, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while landing at the Seminole Lake Gliderport on runway 18, the airplane veered left off the runway when the tailwheel touched down and the right wing struck a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot added that the internal tailwheel centering lock spring may have been fractured or disconnected. A mechanic who examined the airplane stated that he was very familiar with the make and model tailwheel as he had over 8,000 hours of flight experience in tailwheel airplanes and has had inspection authorization for over 50 years. He further stated that the make and model tailwheel locking mechanism tend to wear after 500 to 700 hours. After it is worn, although the tailwheel is supposed to follow the rudder, the tailwheel may stay deflected to one side after the rudder is returned to neutral. The mechanic examined the accident tailwheel in December 2022. He did not disassemble it further as he could tell it was worn from external examination and had seen the issue several times in the past. The mechanic added that after he replaced the old Maule tailwheel with a new API tailwheel, the pilot noticed a significant improvement in the ground steering of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44FC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44FC), registered now, S/N 7AC-2005, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-2005 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4772 - Engines: Continental C65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2022, 8 hours before - Departed: OBE, Okeechobee, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 6FL0, Seminole Lake Gliderport, runway 18, 3,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 610 total, 82 in this make and model, 566 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KZPH, 20 nm away - METAR: KZPH 211755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN049 BKN060 33/23 A3010 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220821014919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220821014919A), Aug 21, 2022: Aeronca 7AC, Groveland, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot reported while landing on runway 18, approach was normal with touch down on runway centerline. Performed wheel landing and when the tailwheel came down… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105784. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14935676&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14935291&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Additional memorandum for the record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14946851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR2-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14935912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14935686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.